What Should I Read Next? Ep 510: Finding classics that shine on audio
Jan 20, 2026
Janae Mast, a stay-at-home mom from Kansas and audiobook enthusiast, shares her passion for immersive audio classics that capture her attention while balancing motherhood. She describes her journey back to reading through audiobooks and discusses the unique challenges of postpartum listening. The conversation explores which classics are best suited for audio, including favorites like 'Jane Eyre' and recommendations such as 'Watership Down' and 'Their Eyes Were Watching God,' all aimed at enriching her literary experience.
58:25
Keep A Ready Audiobook Lineup
- Build a small, ready audiobook lineup so you always have a go-to listen during postpartum or busy seasons.
- Prioritize narrators and accessible audio editions when selecting classics to avoid decision fatigue.
Rereading Because The Writing Resonates
- Janae rereads These Precious Days multiple times because Ann Patchett puts complex feelings into relatable words.
- She enjoys Patchett's narration and has listened to it in both print and audio formats.
Forced Through A Book For Book Club
- Janae recounted hating Jamaica Inn and only finishing it for book club discussion.
- She disliked its Gothic mood, contrived plot, and lack of character development.
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Intro
00:00 • 6min
Guest introduction and reading life
06:03 • 1min
How Janae returned to reading
07:26 • 2min
Why audiobooks work for Janae now
09:33 • 7min
Three books Janae loves
16:38 • 8min
A book Janae disliked: Jamaica Inn
24:41 • 3min
Recent reads: Woman Watching and Endurance
27:57 • 1min
What Janae wants from her reading now
29:15 • 2min
Defining 'classic' and language on audio
31:36 • 4min
Anne: benefits of classics on audio
35:24 • 7min
Anne recommends Anne of Green Gables
42:12 • 1min
Middlemarch and George Eliot
43:33 • 2min
Graham Greene pick with Colin Firth narration
45:13 • 3min
Jane Eyre and gothic nuance
48:32 • 58sec
Zora Neale Hurston recommendations
49:30 • 5min
Watership Down as an Elizabeth Goudge match
54:00 • 2min
Madeline L'Engle and fantasy suggestions
56:07 • 4min
Janae's picks and next steps
01:00:11 • 43sec
Outro
01:00:54 • 2min
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Woman Watching
Marilyn Simmons
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The Dean's Watch
Elizabeth Goudge
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A Circle of Quiet
Madeleine L'Engle
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The Blue Castle
Lucy Maud Montgomery
The Blue Castle tells the story of Valancy Stirling, a 29-year-old unmarried woman living a dull and grey life under the strict control of her family.
Her only escape is her daydreams of the 'Blue Castle,' a fantasy world where all her dreams come true.
After receiving a medical diagnosis that gives her only a year to live, Valancy decides to break free from her family's constraints and live life on her own terms.
She moves out, starts caring for a friend shunned by society, and meets the mysterious Barney Snaith, with whom she falls in love.
The novel follows Valancy's transformation from a timid girl to a self-assured, witty, and courageous woman who finds happiness and fulfillment outside her family's influence.
#120
• Mentioned in 140 episodes
The Hobbit
or There and Back Again
J.R.R Tolkien
Published in 1937, 'The Hobbit' is a children's fantasy novel that introduces readers to the richly imagined world of Middle-earth.
The story follows Bilbo Baggins, a home-loving hobbit, who is persuaded by Gandalf to join Thorin and his twelve dwarves on a quest to reclaim their treasure from the dragon Smaug.
During the journey, Bilbo encounters various creatures, including trolls, goblins, and the mysterious Gollum, and discovers a magical ring that renders the wearer invisible.
The novel is a prequel to 'The Lord of the Rings' and explores themes of personal growth, courage, and unexpected heroism.
#
Barracoon
The Story of the Last 'Black Cargo'
Zora Neale Hurston
This book is based on Hurston's interviews with Oluale Kossola (also known as Cudjo Lewis) in 1927.
Kossola recounts his childhood in Africa, his capture by another tribe, his confinement in a barracoon, and his brutal journey across the Atlantic on the slave ship *Clotilda*.
The narrative includes his experiences as a slave in the United States, his life after emancipation, and the establishment of Africatown by *Clotilda* survivors.
The book was published posthumously in 2018, after remaining unpublished for many decades due to its candid portrayal of the Atlantic slave trade and the use of vernacular English in the interviews.
#1927
• Mentioned in 20 episodes
Anne of Green Gables
Lucy Maud Montgomery
Published in 1908, the novel tells the story of Anne Shirley, an 11-year-old orphan girl who is sent by mistake to live with Matthew and Marilla Cuthbert, who had intended to adopt a boy to help them on their farm in Avonlea.
Despite initial reservations, Anne's vivid imagination, talkativeness, and joyful spirit transform the lives of the Cuthberts and the community.
The novel follows Anne's adventures in school, her friendships, and her rivalry with Gilbert Blythe, as well as her growth and adaptation to her new home.
Montgomery infused the work with her own girlhood experiences and the rural life and traditions of Prince Edward Island.
#
Hitting a Straight Lick with a Crooked Stick
Susan E. Meisenhelder
#551
• Mentioned in 51 episodes
Emma
Jane Austen
juan perez
The novel follows Emma Woodhouse, a beautiful, clever, and rich young woman who has lived nearly twenty-one years with very little distress.
Emma decides to take up matchmaking, despite the advice of her friend Mr. Knightley.
Her attempts to match her new friend Harriet Smith with various men lead to complications and ultimately test her own detachment from the world of romance.
The novel explores themes of education, courtship, and social class in Georgian-Regency England, highlighting Emma's journey of self-discovery and learning from her mistakes.
#6
• Mentioned in 472 episodes
The Lord of the Rings
J.R.R Tolkien
The Lord of the Rings, written by J.R. R.
Tolkien, is an epic high fantasy novel set in Middle-earth.
The story follows Frodo Baggins, a hobbit who inherits the One Ring from his uncle Bilbo.
The Ring, forged by Sauron, holds the power to control all other Rings of Power and must be destroyed in the fires of Mount Doom to prevent Sauron's return.
Frodo is joined by a fellowship of other characters, including Gandalf the Grey, Samwise Gamgee, Aragorn, Legolas, Gimli, and Boromir, as they embark on a dangerous quest across Middle-earth.
The novel explores themes of good vs.
evil, the corrupting influence of power, and the struggle between fate and free will.
#15394
• Mentioned in 3 episodes
The End of the Affair
Graham Greene
Set in London during and after World War II, 'The End of the Affair' delves into the complexities of a love triangle between Maurice Bendrix, Sarah Miles, and her husband, Henry.
When Sarah abruptly ends her affair with Maurice, he becomes consumed by jealousy and hires a private detective to uncover the truth.
The narrative explores themes of religious faith, skepticism, and the destructive nature of obsessive love.
As Maurice unravels the secrets surrounding Sarah's decision, he confronts his own beliefs and grapples with the possibility of divine intervention.
Greene's novel is a profound exploration of human relationships and the search for meaning in a world torn apart by war and personal turmoil.
#10353
• Mentioned in 4 episodes
The Correspondent
Virginia Evans
string
#2492
• Mentioned in 16 episodes
Their Eyes Were Watching God
Zora Neale Hurston
The novel follows Janie Crawford, an African-American woman, as she navigates through three marriages and her quest for love, freedom, and self-identity.
Set in central and southern Florida, the story explores themes of race, gender, and identity, depicting Janie's transformation from a voiceless teenage girl to a woman who takes control of her own destiny.
The narrative is marked by Janie's relationships with her husbands—Logan Killicks, Joe Starks, and Tea Cake—and her ultimate discovery of true love and independence.
#3339
• Mentioned in 13 episodes
Watership Down
Richard Adams
Watership Down is an adventure novel that tells the story of a group of rabbits who flee their warren after one of them, Fiver, has a premonition of impending disaster.
Led by Hazel and Bigwig, the rabbits face numerous perils, including hostile rabbit communities and human threats, as they search for a new home.
The novel explores themes of leadership, freedom, and survival, contrasting the democratic and caring leadership of Hazel with the authoritarian rule of General Woundwort.
The story is rich in anthropomorphic details, including the rabbits' own culture, language, and mythology, and it provides deep insights into the trials and triumphs of life through the eyes of its rabbit characters.
#304
• Mentioned in 77 episodes
Jane Eyre
Edmund Morrison Wimperis
Edmund H. Garrett
Jant van der Weg-Laverman
Charlotte Brontë
The novel follows Jane Eyre from her childhood at Gateshead Hall, where she is mistreated by her aunt and cousins, to her education at Lowood School, and later her employment as a governess at Thornfield Hall.
There, she falls in love with her enigmatic employer, Edward Fairfax Rochester, but discovers a dark secret about his past that forces her to make a difficult choice.
The novel explores themes of love, independence, and social justice, and is known for its realistic portrayal of the inner life of a woman during the Victorian era.
#346
• Mentioned in 71 episodes
Middlemarch
George Eliot
Middlemarch, written by George Eliot, is a novel that delves into the complexities of provincial life in 19th-century England.
The story revolves around the intersecting lives of its characters, particularly Dorothea Brooke and Dr. Tertius Lydgate, as they navigate marriage, vocation, and social class.
Eliot critiques the conventional romance narratives of her time by portraying marriage as a complex and often problematic institution.
The novel also explores themes of idealism, self-interest, hypocrisy, and the constraints on women's lives.
Set in the fictional town of Middlemarch between 1829 and 1832, the novel incorporates historical events such as the Great Reform Act of 1832 and early developments in medicine.
Eliot's realistic portrayal of ordinary human life, with its quiet tragedies and small triumphs, has made 'Middlemarch' a masterpiece of English literature.
#11863
• Mentioned in 4 episodes
Jamaica Inn
Daphne du Maurier
Set in the early 19th century, 'Jamaica Inn' follows Mary Yellan as she moves to live with her aunt and uncle at the infamous Jamaica Inn. There, she discovers the inn's involvement in smuggling and shipwrecking, leading her into a world of danger and suspense.
The novel explores themes of isolation, crime, and the mysterious landscapes of Cornwall.
#114
• Mentioned in 143 episodes
Anna Karenina
Leo Tolstoy
Published in 1878, 'Anna Karenina' is a novel by Leo Tolstoy that delves into the complexities of Russian society in the late 19th century.
The story centers around the extramarital affair between Anna Karenina, a married socialite, and Count Alexei Kirillovich Vronsky, which scandalizes the social circles of Saint Petersburg.
The novel also follows the parallel story of Konstantin Levin, a wealthy landowner, and his struggles with marriage, faith, and managing his estate.
Tolstoy explores a wide range of themes including love, loyalty, betrayal, hypocrisy, and the differences between rural and urban life.
The novel is known for its detailed character development and its profound commentary on the human condition.
#552
• Mentioned in 51 episodes
Endurance
Shackleton's Incredible Voyage
Alfred Lansing
This book details the almost two-year struggle for survival of the 28-man crew of the Endurance, which was beset and eventually crushed by ice floes in the Weddell Sea during the Imperial Trans-Antarctic Expedition of 1914-1917.
The crew drifted on ice floes, salvaged lifeboats, and eventually reached Elephant Island.
Shackleton then led a perilous journey to South Georgia Island to secure rescue, culminating in one of the most remarkable survival stories in history.
Lansing's narrative is based on extensive research, including interviews with surviving crew members and access to their diaries and personal accounts.
#
These Precious Days
Ann Patchett
In 'These Precious Days', Ann Patchett presents a collection of essays that delve into her personal life, exploring themes such as family, friendships, and the art of writing.
The title essay centers around an unexpected friendship with Sooki Raphael, Tom Hanks' assistant, which was formed during the COVID-19 pandemic and had a profound impact on Patchett's life.
The essays span a wide range of topics, including her childhood, her relationships with her three fathers, her love of literature, and her experiences during the pandemic.
Patchett's writing is characterized by its grace, wit, and warmth, transforming private experiences into universal insights that resonate deeply with readers.
#29189
• Mentioned in 2 episodes
Hannah Coulter
Wendell Berry
Hannah Coulter, a novel by Wendell Berry, tells the story of Hannah, a woman reflecting on her life in rural Kentucky.
The narrative explores themes of community, family, and the changing landscape of rural America.
Berry masterfully portrays the deep connections between people and their land, highlighting the importance of place and belonging.
The novel delves into the complexities of relationships, loss, and the enduring power of faith.
Through Hannah's experiences, Berry offers a poignant meditation on the meaning of life and the importance of living in harmony with nature and one's community.
Our guest today is searching for classics in audio format, with narration that brings stories and characters alive.
Janae Mast lives in small town, Kansas, where she's a stay-at-home mom to her young son and looking forward to the arrival of her second child this spring. Janae's found that the audio format works especially well for her in this season of life, and she's here to get ideas for classics on audio that offer immersive reading experiences, that prompt curiosity, and that teach her new things about a moment in time or significant historical event.
We love this quest for Janae. Today, she and Anne explore titles that may fit Janae's listening criteria this spring.
For the full list of titles discussed and to share your suggestions for Janae, visit our show notes page at whatshouldireadnextpodcast.com/510.
Here at What Should I Read Next? and Modern Mrs Darcy, we have lots of tools you can use to keep your reading life on track as you start a fresh year of reading. Explore our collection of Leuchtturm journals as well as Anne's reading journals, My Reading Life and My Reading Adventures. Find the reading journal of your choice and more bookish accessories at ModernMrsDarcy.com/shop.
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